# 1974–75 Leeds United A.F.C. season

The 1974–75 season saw Leeds United compete in the Football League First Division. As reigning English champions, they also competed in the European Cup.

## Season summary

Manager Don Revie left after many successful years at Leeds to manage the England side. He was replaced by Brighton & Hove Albion's Brian Clough—this appointment raised many eyebrows, as Clough had often made public his disdain for both Revie and the playing style of his Leeds side, even clamouring for the club to be relegated on disciplinary grounds.
As it turned out, Clough only lasted 44 days at Elland Road. He alienated several key players like Johnny Giles, Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner and reportedly, in his first training session, told the players to "throw [their] medals in the bin because they were not won fairly." After a poor start which saw Leeds in 19th place after one win from the opening six games and only 4 points from a possible 12 won, the Leeds directors sacked Clough.
Replacing Clough was Bolton Wanderers' Jimmy Armfield. Armfield, while unable to turn the club's fortunes around to finish higher than ninth, bought the Yorkshire club better success in the European Cup, with the club reaching the final against Bayern Munich in Paris. The German side won 2–0 with two goals in 10 minutes late in the second half, but Leeds could have won the match, having denied two strong penalty appeals for fouls by Bayern's Franz Beckenbauer. Indeed, Leeds did get a goal in the 63rd minute, through Peter Lorimer, but Beckenbauer successfully convinced referee Michel Kitabdjian to consult with the linesman, who had not raised his flag; Kitabdijan subsequently indicated Lorimer was marginally offside. This decision to not allow the goal caused riots to break out amongst the travelling Leeds fans.
The violence during the riots saw Leeds banned from European competition for four years (later reduced to two on appeal); but, as Leeds would not qualify for European competition again until 1979, the ban was never applied.
Nonetheless, bitterness remains amongst the Leeds fans even today, due to their perception of being cheated of victory and the European Cup. Over 40 years on, Leeds fans can still be heard chanting at away matches "We are the champions, champions of Europe".

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | WAL | Glan Letheren |
| — | GK | SCO | David Harvey |
| — | GK | SCO | David Stewart |
| — | DF | ENG | Trevor Cherry |
| — | DF | ENG | Peter Hampton |
| — | DF | ENG | Norman Hunter |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Madeley |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Reaney |
| — | DF | WAL | Byron Stevenson |
| — | DF | SCO | Frank Gray |
| — | DF | SCO | Gordon McQueen |
| — | MF | ENG | Mick Bates |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | WAL | Carl Harris |
| — | MF | WAL | Gwyn Thomas |
| — | MF | WAL | Terry Yorath |
| — | MF | SCO | Billy Bremner (captain) |
| — | MF | SCO | Eddie Gray |
| — | MF | SCO | Peter Lorimer |
| — | MF | IRL | Johnny Giles |
| — | FW | ENG | Allan Clarke |
| — | FW | ENG | Mick Jones |
| — | FW | ENG | Duncan McKenzie |
| — | FW | SCO | Joe Jordan |
| — | FW | SCO | Gary Liddell |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | SCO | John McGovern (to Nottingham Forest) |
| — | FW | SCO | John O'Hare (to Nottingham Forest) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | ENG | Terry Cooper (to Middlesbrough) |

### Transfers

In :
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| FW | Duncan McKenzie | Nottingham Forest | £250,000 |
| MF | John McGovern | Derby County | £75,000 |
| FW | John O'Hare | Derby County | £50,000 |
Out :
| Pos. | Name | To |
| DF | Roy Ellam | Huddersfield Town |
| DF | Nigel Davey | Rotherham United |
| MF | Jimmy Mann | Bristol City |

#### Winter

In :
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
Out :
| Pos. | Name | To |
| MF | John McGovern | Nottingham Forest |
| FW | John O'Hare | Nottingham Forest |
| DF | Terry Cooper | Middlesbrough |

## Competitions
### First Division
#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 54 | 40 | 1.350 | 48 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 54 | 54 | 1.000 | 46 |
| 9 | Leeds United | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 57 | 49 | 1.163 | 45 |
| 10 | Burnley | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 68 | 67 | 1.015 | 45 |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 54 | 54 | 1.000 | 42 |

#### Results

| Win | Draw | Loss |
First Division match details :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 17 August 1974 | Stoke City | Away | 0–3 | — | 33,534 |
| 21 August 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | Home | 0–1 | — | 31,497 |
| 24 August 1974 | Birmingham City | Home | 1–0 | Clarke | 30,820 |
| 27 August 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | Away | 1–1 | Yorath | 24,965 |
| 31 August 1974 | Manchester City | Away | 1–2 | Clarke | 37,919 |
| 7 September 1974 | Luton Town | Home | 1–1 | Clarke | 26,450 |
| 14 September 1974 | Burnley | Away | 1–2 | Lorimer | 25,122 |
| 21 September 1974 | Sheffield United | Home | 5–1 | Clarke (2), McQueen, Lorimer pen., Yorath | 33,382 |
| 28 September 1974 | Everton | Away | 2–3 | Clarke, Yorath | 41,824 |
| 5 October 1974 | Arsenal | Home | 2–0 | McKenzie (2) | 32,784 |
| 12 October 1974 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–0 | — | 29,815 |
| 15 October 1974 | Birmingham City | Away | 0–1 | — | 36,513 |
| 19 October 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Home | 2–0 | Clarke, McKenzie | 31,224 |
| 26 October 1974 | Liverpool | Away | 0–1 | — | 54,996 |
| 2 November 1974 | Derby County | Home | 0–1 | — | 33,551 |
| 9 November 1974 | Coventry City | Away | 3–0 | O'Hare, Hindley o.g., Bremner | 25,414 |
| 16 November 1974 | Middlesbrough | Home | 2–2 | McKenzie (2) | 45,488 |
| 23 November 1974 | Carlisle United | Away | 2–1 | Jordan, McKenzie | 19,975 |
| 30 November 1974 | Chelsea | Home | 2–0 | Cherry, Clarke | 30,441 |
| 4 December 1974 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home | 2–1 | McKenzie, Lorimer pen. | 25,832 |
| 7 December 1974 | West Ham United | Away | 1–2 | McKenzie | 39,562 |
| 14 December 1974 | Stoke City | Home | 3–1 | McQueen, Lorimer, Yorath | 34,685 |
| 21 December 1974 | Newcastle United | Away | 0–3 | — | 32,535 |
| 26 December 1974 | Burnley | Home | 2–2 | Jordan, Lorimer | 34,724 |
| 28 December 1974 | Leicester City | Away | 2–0 | F. Gray, McKenzie | 29,699 |
| 11 January 1975 | West Ham United | Home | 2–1 | Clarke, McKenzie | 40,099 |
| 18 January 1975 | Chelsea | Away | 2–0 | McKenzie, Yorath | 34,733 |
| 1 February 1975 | Coventry City | Home | 0–0 | — | 33,901 |
| 8 February 1975 | Derby County | Away | 0–0 | — | 33,641 |
| 22 February 1975 | Middlesbrough | Away | 1–0 | Clarke | 39,500 |
| 25 February 1975 | Carlisle United | Home | 3–1 | Lorimer, Clarke, E. Gray | 32,346 |
| 1 March 1975 | Manchester City | Home | 2–2 | Lorimer (2) | 47,489 |
| 15 March 1975 | Everton | Home | 0–0 | — | 50,084 |
| 22 March 1975 | Luton Town | Away | 1–2 | Jordan | 23,048 |
| 29 March 1975 | Newcastle United | Home | 1–1 | Clarke | 40,994 |
| 31 March 1975 | Leicester City | Home | 2–2 | Clarke, Giles | 29,898 |
| 1 April 1975 | Sheffield United | Away | 1–1 | Madeley | 38,442 |
| 5 April 1975 | Liverpool | Home | 0–2 | — | 34,971 |
| 12 April 1975 | Arsenal | Away | 2–1 | Clarke, Hunter | 36,619 |
| 19 April 1975 | Ipswich Town | Home | 2–1 | Cherry, Harris | 30,174 |
| 26 April 1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | 1–1 | F. Gray | 34,875 |
| 28 April 1975 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away | 2–4 | Jordan, Lorimer | 49,886 |

### FA Charity Shield

| Liverpool | Leeds United |
| GK | 1 | Ray Clemence |
| RB | 2 | Tommy Smith | |
| LB | 3 | Alec Lindsay |
| CB | 4 | Phil Thompson |
| CM | 5 | Peter Cormack |
| CB | 6 | Emlyn Hughes (c) |
| CF | 7 | Kevin Keegan | 60' |
| CM | 8 | Brian Hall |
| LM | 9 | Steve Heighway |
| RM | 11 | Ian Callaghan |
| CF | 12 | Phil Boersma |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 13 | Brian Kettle |
| MF | 14 | John McLaughlin |
| DF | 15 | Max Thompson |
| MF | 16 | Peter Spiring |
| GK | 17 | Peter McDonnell |
| Manager: ||
| Bob Paisley ||
| GK | 1 | David Harvey |
| RB | 2 | Paul Reaney |
| LB | 3 | Trevor Cherry |
| CM | 4 | Billy Bremner (c) | 60' |
| CB | 5 | Gordon McQueen |
| CB | 6 | Norman Hunter |
| CM | 7 | Peter Lorimer |
| CF | 8 | Allan Clarke | 58' |
| CF | 9 | Joe Jordan |
| RM | 10 | Johnny Giles | |
| LM | 12 | Eddie Gray |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 15 | Duncan McKenzie | 58' |
| Manager: ||
| Brian Clough ||

### FA Cup

| Win | Draw | Loss |
FA Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 4 January 1975 | Cardiff City | Home | 4–1 | E. Gray, Clarke (2), McKenzie | 31,572 |
| Fourth round | 24 January 1975 | Wimbledon | Home | 0–0 | — | 46,230 |
| Fourth round replay | 10 February 1975 | Wimbledon | Away | 1–0 | Bassett o.g. | 45,071 |
| Fifth round | 18 February 1975 | Derby County | Away | 1–0 | Nish o.g. | 35,298 |
| Sixth round | 8 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–0 | — | 38,010 |
| Sixth round replay | 11 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Home | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | McKenzie 90' | 50,074 |
| Sixth round second replay | 25 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Neutral | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | — | 35,195 |
| Sixth round third replay | 27 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Neutral | 2–3 | Clarke, Giles | 19,510 |

### League Cup

| Win | Draw | Loss |
League Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Second round | 10 September 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Away | 1–1 | Lorimer | 15,013 |
| Second round replay | 24 September 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Clarke | 18,496 |
| Second round second replay | 7 October 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 2–1 | Bates, Lorimer | 14,599 |
| Third round | 9 October 1974 | Bury | Away | 2–1 | Lorimer, Cherry | 16,354 |
| Fourth round | 13 November 1974 | Chester | Away | 0–3 | — | 19,000 |

### European Cup

| Win | Draw | Loss |
European Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round, first leg | 28 September 1974 | FC Zürich | Home | 4–1 | Clarke (2), Lorimer pen., Jordan | 20,012 |
| First round, second leg | 2 October 1974 | FC Zürich | Away | 1–2 | Clarke | 16,500 |
| Second round, first leg | 23 October 1974 | Újpest | Away | 2–1 | Lorimer, McQueen | 20,000 |
| Second round, second leg | 6 November 1974 | Újpest | Home | 3–0 | McQueen, Bremner, Yorath | 28,091 |
| Third round, first leg | 5 March 1975 | Anderlecht | Home | 3–0 | Jordan, McQueen, Lorimer | 43,195 |
| Third round, second leg | 19 March 1975 | Anderlecht | Away | 1–0 | Bremner | 37,000 |
| Semi-final, first leg | 9 April 1975 | Barcelona | Home | 2–1 | Bremner, Clarke | 50,393 |
| Semi-final, second leg | 24 April 1975 | Barcelona | Away | 1–1 | Lorimer | 110,000 |
| Final | 28 May 1975 | Bayern Munich | Neutral | 0–2 | — | 48,374 |

#### Final

| Bayern Munich | Leeds United |
| GK | 1 | Sepp Maier |
| RB | 2 | Bernd Dürnberger |
| CB | 4 | Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck | 20' |
| CB | 5 | Franz Beckenbauer (c) |
| LB | 3 | Björn Andersson | | 4' |
| RM | 8 | Rainer Zobel |
| CM | 7 | Conny Torstensson |
| LM | 6 | Franz Roth |
| RF | 10 | Uli Hoeneß | | 42' |
| CF | 9 | Gerd Müller |
| LF | 11 | Jupp Kapellmann |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 12 | Klaus Wunder | | 42' |
| MF | 13 | Sepp Weiß | | 4' |
| FW | 14 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge |
| DF | 15 | Günther Weiß [de] |
| GK | 16 | Hugo Robl |
| Manager: ||
| Dettmar Cramer ||
| GK | 1 | David Stewart |
| RB | 2 | Paul Reaney | 7' |
| CB | 6 | Norman Hunter | 83' |
| CB | 5 | Paul Madeley |
| LB | 3 | Frank Gray |
| RM | 7 | Peter Lorimer |
| CM | 4 | Billy Bremner (c) |
| CM | 10 | Johnny Giles |
| LM | 11 | Terry Yorath | | 80' |
| CF | 8 | Allan Clarke |
| CF | 9 | Joe Jordan |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 12 | Glan Letheren |
| DF | 13 | Trevor Cherry |
| DF | 14 | Peter Hampton |
| MF | 15 | Eddie Gray | | 80' |
| FW | 16 | Duncan McKenzie |
| Manager: ||
| Jimmy Armfield ||

## Awards

At the end of the season, defender Gordon McQueen was named the club's Player of the Year.